by Martha Carr
Maggie felt her stomach lurch and a bubble appeared out of her mouth, flying straight at the Kashgar as a light shone from the compass, amplifying the bubble. It attached itself to the face of the guard, sucking the air out of him till he was blue and gasping on his knees, desperately pulling at the sticky substance.
"Death by magical jellyfish," said Bernie with a shudder. "That is deep."
"The compass has become a part of her. It was protecting the Elemental," said Wilmark.
"Let's go," whispered Maggie, grabbing the compass and sliding it back into her pocket. She rushed past Wilmark, looking in each cell at the different faces inside. "Open them all," she said over her shoulder.
"We don't know why they're in here. Could have even been a good reason," yelled Bernie.
"Do it!" She disappeared around a corner, still searching, running past each cell, turning corners, listening to the groans as her breathing picked up with each prisoner who wasn't Jake. She rounded a corner and saw the brick wall at the other end, a small panic filling her gut. Only a few left and the ones right in front of her were empty. She ran to the last cell and looked in at the fallen man, curled on his side away from her. His back was laid open, crisscrossed by slash marks and only the remnants of a shirt till hanging on around it. She dropped the sword in her hand and it fell to the ground, disappearing into foaming bubbles that seeped into the ground.
"Jake?" She gripped the iron bars and jumped back as they sizzled, leaving blisters on her fingers. She ignored the pain and looked at the large lock on the door. "Jake?" she cried out, louder than she intended. She took out her gun and shot at the lock, hoping the ward didn't extend to inanimate objects. The bullet bounced off, ricocheting in the tight quarters, barely missing her arm. She holstered her gun and made herself slow her breathing. "Jake!" She screamed out, hoping to make the body stir and let her know there was life still in it.
"Help me," she whispered, as she did her best to empty her mind and let the magic flow through her. She gripped the lock with both hands, ignoring the burning sensation and blew small bubbles the size of pearls that dove inside the lock, shoving the chambers into position till they fell open.
She pulled against the ancient lock, her eyes back lit in a pale blue and felt it give way and open. The bars glowed for a moment, sparking as the ward fell away and Maggie pulled on the door, throwing it open. She rushed to the still body yelling, "Be alive, please be alive," repeating it over and over. She gently rolled him over, relieved to see Jake's eyelids flutter and felt herself take a sharp intake of air. She rested her head gently against his chest, feeling his heart beating underneath her as a pain mixed with anger rose up inside her.
Jake muttered something too quietly for her to hear and she lifted her head, coming closer to his mouth. "I'm here, you're safe. It's okay. We're taking you out of here."
He opened his eyes, surprised to see her. "I thought I was dreaming." His lips were dry and he was straining to keep his eyes open. "I didn't tell them anything. They don't know who you are. I didn't say anything." He tried to shake his head and reassure her.
A tear ran down her cheek and she pressed her lips against his, her hand against his rough cheek. She pulled back, looking into his eyes. "I'm sorry, I should have listened. I should have given you a chance," she said as their noses touched.
He coughed and tried to smile, but winced instead. "I'm a dirty Kashgar and I didn't tell you."
The others caught up to them and Wilmark stopped short, turning around for a moment, not sure what to do. Bernie looked up at him and let out a loud tsk. "Save whatever this is for later, knight. We have to get out of here. We're in a Kashgar ant hill and more will be swarming very soon. Help me get him up," he said, lifting one of Jake's ankles as he cried out in pain.
"How about we let Wilmark carry him this time." Kathleen put her hand on Bernie's shoulder. "He's right though and the fire I left burning won't last much longer."
Bernie let go of his ankle and looked up at everyone, annoyed. "I know what you are all thinking. Not so handy as a raccoon, but I saved your butts back there and with no magic!" He brushed his paws together and held them out to inspect. "Just these claws!"
Wilmark removed his folded cloak and unfurled it, wrapping it gently around Jake and picking him up, ignoring his screams of pain. "The raccoon is right. We need to hurry." He caught sight of Maggie's burned hands and hesitated, but she shook her head. "Once we're clear of this place." The pain was making her head throb, but she gritted her teeth and followed Wilmark, with Bernie running on all fours by her side. The Fire fae led the way, glancing around corners.
All of the cages were emptied out as they ran by them and they found the former captives crowding together in a clump, in the tunnel leading to the conference room, frozen at the sight of the wall of fire. The Kashgars were growling on the other side. Maggie looked at Kathleen and tilted her head. "Can you do anything to make a path?"
Kathleen narrowed her eyes and gave a nod, pushing her way to the front of the crowd. She planted herself next to the burned body of the dead Kashgar. Flames grew in her palms and she stared down the Kashgars on the other side who continued to growl even as they backed up a few steps. She arched her back, holding out her hands, her fingers pointed down and her palms out as the flames poured out of her, breaking through the wall of fire and pushing the Kashgars on the other side back against the wall. The flames were licking at their faces and singeing their hair, their swords pressed uselessly against the cement walls.
The crowd of former inmates huddled together, unwilling at first to pass through the narrow tunnel surrounded by flames and Kashgars. "Move!" growled Wilmark, raising his sword as Bernie ran ahead, scurrying up the tunnel, to show them no harm would come to them. One by one they began to run toward the door at the far end with Wilmark running right behind them, holding Jake as Maggie and the Fire fae kept turning back to make sure no one was following them yet. They made it through the door and to the entrance and the stairs to the outside before running into more Kashgars standing at the top.
In front of them stood Iliad, a sneer on his lips. Just behind him, Maggie could glimpse the night sky and the stars. She held out her hand to blow a bubble and form a weapon but Iliad held up his hand and shouted, "No need! We will not fight you out in the open. You won this battle. Take out our refuse for us if you insist." He jerked his head to the right and the Kashgars backed up the stairs, heading outside to stand back against the wall.
Only a few of the prisoners dared to venture outside and pass by Iliad's glare, running off into the night and beyond the wards that had dampened their magic. Iliad's sneer grew into a cold hatred as Wilmark pushed forward with his grandson. Maggie passed within inches of him and felt as if time were slowing down as she looked up at the man who could torture his own flesh and blood.
"We will meet again," he spit out.
Maggie turned her head toward him but kept walking. "That's what I'm hoping."
Bernie raised his middle claw on each front paw and waved them at the Kashgars still standing by the hidden entrance as they filed up the stairs. "Hasta la vista, baby!" he crowed. A Kashgar growled at Kathleen as she passed and she popped a flame in his face, startling him.
"That's right!" yelled Bernie, giving the Fire Elemental the thumbs up. "You're kind of badass. I like you."
"We need to help Bernie turn back into a gnome again." Maggie watched him hold up his paw to Kathleen for a high-five. The rest of the prisoners were pouring out, pushing past Iliad before it was too late and disappearing into the darkness. Iliad locked eyes with her, sneering.
Wilmark kept moving and Maggie broke away from Iliad's gaze, keeping up.
"That is the Earth's doing. Talk to the trees," said Wilmark. "They may be able to help you, but with everything else..."
Jake stirred and moaned, shifting in Wilmark's arms. "We need to get him to where he can be treated."
"Not a hospital. How would we answer their questions?"
Maggie pulled back a corner of the cloak and looked at the oozing slashes visible at the top of his back. "Let's take him to my house. He'll be safe there."
She put her hand on Wilmark as Kathleen held onto her arm and Bernie wrapped a paw around Wilmark's ankle. The knight formed a ball of light that grew to encompass all of them, flashing a brilliant purple crowding out everything else. When it cleared they were back in Maggie's back yard and Dexter was standing on the back porch barking and squeaking at them. Diana stood in the doorway, holding open the screen door.
She raced down the steps when she saw Jake lying still in Wilmark's arms and pressed her fingers against his neck, even as Wilmark made his way to the porch. "What happened? I kept calling and got no answer," she said, her face drawn and tired.
Wilmark looked back at Maggie and didn't answer, making his way through the kitchen and hustling Jake upstairs toward the guest room. Maggie followed right behind him, close at his heels, stepping over the third step. "Take him to my room on the left," she said as Wilmark nudged the door open wider with his foot and gently laid Jake down on the coverlet. He moaned and his eyes fluttered open again. Maggie sat down on the edge of the bed and took Jake's hand in hers. Diana leaned over him and checked his eyes. "I don't like the way he looks. He needs medical help in a proper setting."
Wilmark watched Maggie and looked at the injured Jake. "How will you call the mechanics to help him if Bernie can't practice magic?"
Maggie looked up and put Jake's hand gently next to him. "The puzzle box. I can use it to call them. Will you wait with him?"
"As you wish."
Maggie rushed out, missing the hesitance in his voice, but Diana saw it. "Something happen between you two while you were gone?"
Wilmark grunted and went to the window to look out at the front of the house. There was no one moving on the street.
Diana sat down and held Jake's hand and looked at Wilmark. "Apparently I missed a lot."
Maggie rushed out the back and down the steps, Dexter yipping at her heels and growling at Bernie. Bernie hissed at the dog, sending him under the porch. Maggie passed by the oldest tree in the yard and saw the branches sway toward her, rustling in the quiet of the cold night air. She passed by, but thought better of it and turned back, pressing her hand against the rough bark.
"Is now really the time for a chin wag with the trees?"
Maggie ignored Bernie and let her breathing slow down. The chatter entered her head immediately, filling her mind with messages darting back and forth. Something was wrong on the ship and the trees were all talking to each other, discussing options and strategy and coming up with nothing. It took her a minute to pull out what was upsetting them, but eventually, there it was. The Kashgars have the Dirt Elemental and he's leading them to the door.
"What door?" she whispered. "Why is a door that important?"
He's leading them to the door. The branches on the tree shook, showering the few remaining leaves on the tree.
An image flashed through her mind and she recognized it immediately. It was the upper falls at McKinney State Park, her old childhood haunt. But she didn't see any door.
Bernie's eyes widened and his whiskers were twitching. "Did they say something about a door? Please let it be a door to a portal, or maybe even the mechanics. We could handle a nasty visit or two. But not the door."
Maggie pressed her hand harder against the bark but it didn't let her inside and the messages only repeated themselves without further explanation. She took her hand off and made her way to the garage.
"Well?" Bernie ran alongside her, scrambling up to the top of the large trash can. "What did they say?"
"That the Kashgars have found a guide to the door. The Dirt Elemental." She went into the garage, bracing herself for the wave of rotting body and put her shirt over her nose. It wasn't as bad as she expected and she easily found the puzzle box where she had hidden it. She kept moving it from place to place, not sure where it could stay secure. She came out to find Bernie still on top of the trash can, wringing his paws.
"What? Why are you doing that?"
"This is bad, kid. Very bad. Call the mechanics. We're gonna need them. Do it fast."
17
They took turns standing guard or watching over Jake that night. It was nearly sunrise when the mechanics showed up, appearing in the alley and making their way silently through the gate. Jack was with them, hustling in near the chicken coop and looking around for his old friend, Bernie, scanning the yard.
He frowned when he saw the raccoon dressed in short-shorts and a t-shirt but kept looking. Bernie stood up on his hind legs and crossed his front paws over each other, patiently waiting.
"Don't want to kill off an ancient gnome," he muttered to Diana.
Diana looked down at Bernie, still trying to take in the transformation. "How did you get yourself in this predicament? Can I take some blood samples from you? I would love to study the DNA. I wonder if it's all raccoon."
Bernie took a step away from her, scowling. "Keep your Peabrain paws off my fur, lady." The words whistled through his front fangs.
Jack wheeled around at the sound of Bernie's voice, looking for his friend. "Bernie? Where'd you go? This is no time for your idea of a plan. Did you leave already?" He pushed his way to the front of the Huldus, looking around with a worried scowl. Bernie stood there silently, a paw pressed to his mouth, and the other one smoothing out the front of his t-shirt. Jack glanced at the raccoon again, but walked on, searching the corners of the yard and smelling the air for strawberries.
"Nothing! That's odd."
Diana walked closer to the raccoon and whispered out the side of her mouth, "You tell him or I will. Five, four, three..."
"Okay, okay." He shook it off, tilting his neck to the left and the right like he was getting ready.
"One. Oh Jack..." Diana beckoned to the older gnome.
"I said I'd do it!" The words burst out of Bernie's mouth, louder than he intended. All the Huldus slowly turned and gathered, grouping around Bernie, their eyes wide.
"Hi fellas!" he said, as if nothing strange had happened. "You see it's like this. I needed a little cover and put on the old fur suit," he said, patting his belly. "And when I went to change back, no bubbles!"
Jack pushed his way in front of the crowd and stood in front of Bernie, his mouth hanging open. He shook his head hard, opening and shutting his eyes, taking in the three foot tall raccoon. "Bernie! What have you gone and done now?"
"Now hold up there, Jack. It's not like that this time."
"You said that when you rerouted that river by accident and boom, Grand Canyon!"
"Well, to be fair, that one has turned out really well."
Jack threw up his hands and Bernie shook his paws. "Wait, wait, you have a point, but I'm telling you, this is different. I followed all the rules, all the protocol. Something went fttzzz on me."
"Maybe we can change the little critter back," said Radar.
"He's a lot cuter as a raccoon," yelled out someone from the back.
"Hardy har Elias. Just wait till you need help with the Indian Ocean on a Saturday night again." He looked up at Bernie, his whiskers twitching. "Try it out for me, buddy. Help me get back to being a gnome."
"Wait one second!" Diana ran up onto the porch and brought down a large beach towel, handing it over to Jack. "Just in case this works, no naked old gnome butt. Sorry Bernie, no offense."
"None taken, but I'll have you know, still rock solid, raccoon or gnome. Come on, let's do this thing. We have more important things to get to than this."
Jack harrumphed and snorted but he recited an old incantation, "Quid est, iterum erit." Bubbles immediately began piling out of his mouth, surrounding Bernie till he was hidden inside of them, piling on top of each other, making a bigger and bigger ball, forcing the Huldus to
back up.
They leaned in, anxious to see what was about to emerge and Jack held up the beach towel, ready to cover up the naked Bernie, but when the bubbles deflated there was still a raccoon standing there, unchanged. "Did it work? Am I back?" Bernie looked down and saw the fur and claws and let out a disappointed 'tsk'. "Well," he said, throwing up his paws, and letting out a disappointed breath, "I guess this is it for me. No more giant wrench, no more hanging in the cafeteria."
Jack patted his friend on the shoulder. "Not so fast. We've faced worse together and we'll figure this out. We did pretty well with that left turn you made that got us here."
"Did you really need to mention that right now?"
"Fellas, let's get on with things. Maggie is waiting upstairs."
"Right..." Bernie held up one claw. "First, so you don't run off half cocked when you hear the second tidbit of news, Jake is upstairs and needs your magical medical assistance. The giant elf has only been able to keep him alive. He needs more."
"You're asking us to help a Kashgar?" Jack and the other Huldus started arguing among themselves, the murmur steadily growing in volume.
"Hey! Hey! Eyes up here and mouths shut," yelled Bernie. They quickly quieted down and Bernie smiled. "Huh, I still have it. Maybe I can make a go of this raccoon thing. Okay, half Kashgar first of all..."
"You were the one ranting about a half Kashgar being no good either!"
Bernie nodded, "Yes, yes, that is true, but..."
Wilmark came off the porch in large strides, startling Bernie. "He protected the Elemental with his body and would have given his life if it came to that. He's proven himself and he needs our help." His hand was resting on the handle of his sword. The Huldus grunted and pounded their chests or stomped their feet.
"What does that mean?" asked Diana. "I can't tell if they're going to help or start a rumble."
"It's a sign of respect for Jake. He protected the Elemental. That's rule number one above all other rules."
"Show us to him," said Jack, solemnly. The other Huldus lined up in a straight line.